NY Senate to hold hearings on drinking water contamination

Published 1:01 pm, Friday, July 8, 2016

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — The state Senate will hold public hearings on drinking water contamination in Hoosick Falls and other communities — a longtime demand of residents in the Rensselaer County village dealing with a toxic chemical contamination.

Republican Senate Leader John Flanagan announced the hearings on Friday. An initial hearing is set for August in Hoosick Falls.

Residents there have sought hearings into why the state Health Department didn't warn them about contamination until 18 months after it was discovered.

Top lawmakers balked at hearings until this week. The Assembly announced earlier this week that it would hold hearings. A congressional committee is also looking into the contamination.

Hoosick Falls and nearby Petersburgh are in the midst of cleanup work for contamination with PFOA, a chemical used in making Teflon and similar materials.